**A Trace of Existence**

All things born of the world leave their mark, every deed a lingering resonance. The traces left by all creation held a peculiar vitality, one that often stirred a deep melancholy within Tai Yin. From his youth, he possessed the uncanny ability to perceive these ephemeral residues, to manipulate their spiritual essence. This gift, rare and profound, marked him as a genius in the art of formations, elevating him above his peers and earning him the personal tutelage of his Grand-Uncle, True Man Tai Hua.

The time of a True Man is a precious commodity, none more so than Tai Hua, the very architect of Da Xia’s defenses, a figure indispensable to every facet of the realm’s security. Yet, despite the crushing weight of his responsibilities, Tai Hua never wavered in guiding Tai Yin’s studies. From childhood to adulthood, Tai Yin’s performance in every discipline was near flawless. As the foremost talent in Da Xia, he was universally seen as True Man Tai Hua’s heir and the beacon of hope for the Tai clan’s ascent to the pinnacle of Da Xia’s noble houses.

But in truth… he had never desired to become a second Tai Hua. His aspirations were merely the aspirations others believed he should hold. His path was the most optimal one, meticulously charted by his Grand-Uncle Tai Hua. He himself had always believed he walked the most righteous road in life. Until, that is, he was felled by a single spear strike from a strangely arrogant man in the Shan Hai Realm.

Losing to Chong Xuan Zun, he could accept. The fundamental chasm between Da Xia and Qi was not unknown to him. He had indeed poured forth his utmost, yet the gulf of strength remained insurmountable. Da Xia’s foremost talent, on the world stage, was indeed no great matter. Each realm boasted its own prodigies, but upon the Guan He Platform, only one could remain standing. The others, burdened by so many expectations, having walked a path of glory all their lives… all were destined to fall. He was simply one among the unfortunate many. He needed to strive harder, to be more desperate.

Losing to Jiang Wang, he could accept. Jiang Wang’s renown was not self-proclaimed, but forged in the crucible of countless life-and-death battles. To be surpassed by the chief of the Yellow River in the competition of Inner Mansion realm talents in the Shan Hai Realm was no great humiliation. Perhaps he still hadn’t striven enough, hadn’t been desperate enough. There were still many things he could learn, a long road yet to traverse. He could grit his teeth and strive to catch up once more.

But to be so casually, so effortlessly struck down by a mere unknown, one whose confidence reeked of arrogance, whose single spear was so sharp… that is when he wavered. From the conclusion of the Shan Hai Realm until this very moment, he had been adrift in doubt.

Now, as he walked in silence, he sought to soothe himself. To soothe his trembling fingers, and to soothe his unsettled spirit. The rise and fall of the nation rested upon his shoulders, the prosperity and decline of his clan upon his back, the expectations of others, the aspirations he himself bore… he had been stretched too thin!

Just then, a middle-aged man, the current head of the Tai clan and his uncle, Tai Xu, approached in haste. He too appeared to have just concluded his duties along the defensive lines, his official robes still clinging to him. Upon seeing Tai Yin, he offered only a knowing glance before heading directly towards the inner chamber. Tai Yin followed in silent understanding.

As the chamber door locked behind them, a faint flash of bright yellow light pulsed and faded. This was the Five Elements Forbidden Divine Array, a formation designed to isolate all probing gazes. Tai Yin was familiar with it, though he could never wield it with such effortless command.

What grave matter could this be? A sense of indescribable unease coiled within him.

Tai Xu, the current head of the Tai clan, possessed a gentle demeanor and kindly eyes, yet his temperament was one of remarkable resolve. Otherwise, he would not have dared to undertake such a ruinous act to preserve the clan, sending every able-bodied young man to the front lines.

“The Wei country has stated their position clearly. They will not send troops,” Tai Xu declared, settling onto a soft cushion.

Tai Yin knelt opposite him, a silence falling between them. Chu country’s stance, of course, was self-evident. Even before Wei, Li and Yue had already refused their pleas for aid. What of Liang? Liang country had already deployed troops along their border… not, of course, to assist Da Xia, but to stir the pot, eager to seize a bloody morsel in the unfolding chaos. This forced Da Xia, at this critical juncture of national survival, to divert precious military strength to guard its borders. Since the death of Emperor Wen of Liang in Gui Yi City all those years ago, the enmity between them had been irreconcilable. Originally, Liang had fallen, and the last emperor was not widely mourned. But the Kang Shao of the Liang imperial clan, seizing upon the opportunity of the Qi-Xia struggle, had successfully restored the realm. This blood debt lingered, one that could only be expunged by the utter annihilation of one of the nations. Old debts, there was little good to be said of them.

Jian Ge? Without Jian Ge’s support in the early years, how could Kang Shao have defended Later Liang? San Xing Palace? As the sacred ground of the Legalists, San Xing Palace held a status similar to Shu Shan, but San Xing Palace was even less likely to intervene. Legalist cultivators from San Xing Palace were spread throughout the world, but San Xing Palace itself functioned solely as a place of governance by law, a repository of Legalist thought. It absolutely would not align with any single faction. Indeed, among cultivators originating from San Xing Palace, Qi’s influence internally would likely be stronger than Da Xia’s, not weaker.

Li country had once been annexed by Da Xia, only to later restore itself. However, in recent years, there had been many exchanges between the higher echelons of both realms, and diplomatic relations were relatively harmonious. But Li country itself lacked the strength to intervene in the great war between Qi and Xia. Within the entire southern domain, the only powers with the ability to influence the war and potentially send troops were truly Wei and Yue. But now, both had successively declared their refusal. Although it was unknown what Qi had paid for this, it was undoubtedly clear that on the diplomatic front, Da Xia was also firmly locked down.

Tai Yin once again felt a profound realization. This was an all-encompassing, multi-dimensional war, a true war of national annihilation! And the time of its commencement was likely even earlier than he had perceived.

Tai Xu looked at Tai Yin and spoke directly, “You cannot die.”

Tai Yin’s hands rested on his knees, a momentary confusion clouding his expression. “Tai Yin… I… nephew…” He stumbled over his self-reference three times before slightly lowering his head and saying, “Tai Yin wishes to share the same fate of life and death with the Tai clan.” His words were clear, having been carefully considered.

“Of course,” Tai Xu replied. “If you live, the Tai clan lives. If you die, the Tai clan perishes.”

Tai Yin wanted to say that was not his meaning. He wanted to say that he did not seek this kind of shared fate, this singular tying of the clan’s destiny to his own. But Tai Xu did not give him the opportunity to speak, just as in countless moments before. Indeed, why the need to speak? Tai Xu was not unaware, not blind to his sentiments. It was just that Tai Xu believed there was a better choice. Better for him, better for the Tai clan, better in every respect.

The current head of the Tai clan continued, “You inherit your Grand-Uncle’s mantle, the most exquisite aspects of my Tai clan’s formation arts. He valued you most in his life. I also…” He did not wish to dwell on sentiment, so he turned his words, “So-called formation arts is to harness the power of heaven and earth, to wield the human dao to manifest the heavenly dao. If the heavenly dao wills Da Xia’s demise, then Da Xia will perish. My Tai clan will be nothing more than a sacrifice in blood. But upon you alone, the fire seed of my Tai clan must surely be preserved.” Tai Xu’s eyes were remarkably calm, yet within that calmness lay a profound, suppressed sorrow. “I am not telling you to leave now. My Tai clan is a prominent family of Da Xia. For you to leave now would be akin to surrendering, no different from betraying the nation. I speak of the final moments…”

Tai Yin gritted his teeth and said, “Victory and defeat are not yet decided. Da Xia did not perish thirty-two years ago, nor will it perish this time!”

“Of course,” Tai Xu said. “I believe my Da Xia still possesses an unfulfilled heavenly mandate. I am willing to dedicate everything to this, to fight to the last… I am merely speaking of the worst possible outcome. If…” He drew a deep breath, then continued his words. “If it truly comes to that point, within the Tai clan, only you cannot die.”

From his bosom, he withdrew a verdant, treasure-light-hazed formation disc and placed it in Tai Yin’s hand. “Other things I cannot give you, for I still need to fight, and Da Xia still needs me to fight. This Qing Ming Transfer Disc has traditionally been the life-saving artifact of the Tai clan head. It has been in my possession for twenty years. In times of necessity, it can aid your escape. I entrust it to you now, and I hope you will not forget your mission.”

Tai Xu had his own son, his own daughter, yet this sole Qing Ming Transfer Disc, he gave to Tai Yin. He looked at Tai Yin, speaking with deep emotion, “If you do not die, the Tai clan is not extinguished, the formation arts are not extinguished.” He closed Tai Yin’s hand around the disc, gripping it with both of his own, and pressed down heavily twice. Then, he rose and left the chamber.

Tai Yin wanted to say, no, it will not come to this, it will not reach that point. Tai Yin wanted to say, if everyone else is dead, why should I live? What meaning would there be in my existence? He even wanted to say, no, the formation arts I envision are not what you all speak of. Even if I survive, what lives on is not the ancient formation arts of the Tai clan. Not your path.

But he found himself utterly unable to utter a single word. How could he possibly speak? In the quiet chamber, devoid of all other sounds, he knelt in his original place, as solitary as his own shadow.

The affairs of the Tai family were not merely the affairs of one family. The Qi army’s destruction of Jian Feng Mountain within a single day was akin to a hammer blow from the heavens, striking down upon the foreheads of many. The profound impact of this battle might only be fully understood upon review after the war. Speaking only of the present, the search for a path forward had begun not just within one family, one surname…

And the Qi army continued its advance. A million-strong Qi army, crushing all before it like withered grass and rotten wood. Feng Jie Prefecture’s entire territory was subjugated within a mere three days. The “Purple Extreme Expedition” surged through Feng Jie, simultaneously expanding their supply lines and consolidating control over the occupied regions. The Qi army did not treat the Xia people harshly, nor did they deliberately impede the escape of Xia commoners. Firstly, a reduction in commoners with a strong desire to flee would lessen the burden of control in the occupied areas. Secondly, as long as they remained within Xia territory, no matter where they fled, the Qi army would follow. In the end, they would all be brought back under dominion. Why not, therefore, simply subsist on the enemy’s resources? Thirdly, the fleeing Xia commoners were the most potent source of panic. Sending a hundred spies to sow panic within Xia territory was no match for the effect of a single tearful, displaced Xia commoner. Cao Ji’s use of soldiers, down to the minutiae of control, was near perfect.

At this very moment, the million-strong army of Qi had gathered along the banks of the Lian Jiang. A flag officer, mounted on horseback, galloped through the air, raising his banner and shouting, “Transmit the commander’s order: Cross the river!” Cultivators skilled in the art of water manipulation lined the banks of the Lian Jiang in a single file. Their actions were neat and synchronized, almost simultaneously forming hand seals and activating a military formation technique.

*Ka ka, ka ka.*

Ice rapidly spread across the surface of the water. This ice was not a mere thin layer of floating ice, but a thick expanse, reaching halfway up the riverbanks, capable of bearing horses and carts. With the conclusion of the technique, the Lian Jiang was frozen solid. The flowing, winding Lian Jiang, which meandered for hundreds of li around the Jiang Yin Plain, now lay frozen. Reflecting the sunlight, it shimmered with an ethereal rainbow hue.

The Chase Wind Army, each soldier mounted on their steed, formed a vanguard array, stepping onto the frozen river with mighty strides and crossing over… Soldiers surged across the river! And with their gaze fixed upon the surging tide of this mighty army, they looked towards the distant horizon. They beheld the sun hanging low over the plains, the dawn light dividing the landscape. At what seemed to be the very edge of their vision, the silhouette of a majestic city appeared. Upon this fertile Jiang Yin Plain, Zhong City stood impregnable. Da Xia’s most formidable armies, the Divine Martial and the Zhen Guo, were all stationed here. Da Xia’s pillar, King Wu, Si Jiao, personally guarded this city. Moreover, a million auxiliary troops had gathered, intending to establish a stable northeastern defense line centered around Zhong City, firmly blocking the Qi army outside this line.

Standing in the air, Chong Xuan Sheng narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance. Within the silhouette of that majestic city, he saw dust filling the air, vast swathes of cavalry surging forth like a black cloud.

“The Xia army actually dares to engage in a great battle outside the city?” Jiang Wang, who had risen into the air alongside him, asked with some surprise. In his view, the strength of the Qi army was beyond doubt. They could sweep across the world, and their edge could only be blunted by an overlord nation. The Xia army’s only advantage lay in their geography, in firmly defending their cities. Only then could they possibly resist the Qi army. How was it that they were now choosing to engage in a great battle outside the city? Especially with that military banner embroidered with the words “Zhen Guo,” signifying this troop was one of Da Xia’s strongest elites. This was clearly not a probing action. The momentum of the Xia army was immense, seemingly intent on repelling the Qi army back to the east bank of the Lian Jiang in a single engagement!

Chong Xuan Sheng explained faintly, “Mountains and rivers cannot solidify a nation; only the will to die can defend its borders. Before guarding the city, they must fight a battle. If this battle is not fought, the morale and fighting spirit of the Xia army will be extinguished. Why did Commander Cao not hesitate to pay the price to capture Jian Feng Mountain in a single day and occupy Feng Jie Prefecture in three days? This is the reason!” If Yu Li Yang had truly turned Feng Jie Prefecture into a quagmire of blood and flesh, successfully delaying the Qi army, then Xiang You Prefecture could naturally have been defended at leisure, waiting for the enemy with ease, guarding it as a waste ground for years. But Jian Feng Mountain fell in a single engagement, and Feng Jie Prefecture changed banners in three days. The hearts and fighting spirit of the Xia people and military were almost already shattered. A war between nations, fought to this point, if there was still not a single frontal engagement, not a single display of courage, then the city could not be held. If the will of the people has no anchor point, it will collapse sooner or later!

The Qiu Sha Army was still on the east bank of the Lian Jiang at this moment, not yet crossing the river. This battle was not their turn. Hence, Jiang Wang and Chong Xuan Sheng could still discuss a few sentences here.

“Which book is that sentence from?” Jiang Wang asked, referring to “Mountains and rivers danger this sentence.”

“Oh,” Chong Xuan Sheng said casually. “Emperor Xiang of Xia said it. It is recorded in the Book of Xia. This is also the origin of the military name ‘Zhen Guo Army’ for their army.” Though he spoke so lightly, it was enough to show just how much preparation this fat man had undertaken for this invasion of Xia! Clearly, his role in the army at this time was at most that of a mid-level military general, only needing to focus on the three capital armies under his command. But when it came to the overall picture, he did not relax in the slightest! He approached his competition with Chong Xuan Zun with the posture of leading the invasion of Xia. How could others dare to say that victory and defeat were already decided? Even if, in the western suburbs of Lin Zi, Chong Xuan Zun had seized the position of vanguard general with the overwhelming momentum of the Divine Forest. Even if Chong Xuan Zun was now leading the army to sweep across the borders of Xia, holding an almost overwhelming advantage in terms of merit. This war was not yet over. There were still infinite possibilities. And both Chong Xuan Sheng and Jiang Wang were undoubtedly individuals who could grasp “possibility.”

This time, Jiang Wang said nothing more. He looked at the surging tide of the army before him, saying only, “To think, Commander Cao had already predicted this.”

“Otherwise, what do you think? Why did the Chase Wind Army need to sharpen its edge first? Capturing twenty-three cities in three days, causing the entire territory of Feng Jie Prefecture to change banners, it is precisely when the edge of the Chase Wind Army is at its most prosperous! This is the perfect time for bayonets to meet blood, for blades to clash in battle!” Having said this, Chong Xuan Sheng couldn’t help but sigh. “Every step the opponent takes is unable to escape Commander Cao’s control. It is not that their wisdom is lacking, but that they have no other choice. This is a truly magnificent army!” Providing you with the fastest update and free reading.